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History and Environmental Fair

Making an Indian fluteThe History & Environmental Fair will not be held in 2022. Please check back for information on next year's event.

This event is co-sponsored by the Shawnee County Conservation District.

The annual event teaches students grades four through six how Kansans have been "living green" for generations. This event began as a way to highlight our wonderful nature trail. It has evolved into a celebration of our state's natural resources and an exploration into exciting new opportunities for using them.

Living "green" has become quite popular in today's world. It is a lifestyle defined by the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. These three Rs aim to reduce the amount of waste and, at the same time, get the most benefit from the things we use. By living green, people help to improve the environment and protect our resources for future Kansans.

Featuring:

  • See an early bicycle known as a Penny Farthing
  • Explore what goes into growing a pizza
  • Learn how to make rope
  • Meet animals that are true super heroes

What a great way to combine two such important subjects — history and the environment! —Topeka teacher

The connections between what we have discussed in our classrooms and what we saw was fantastic! —Emporia teacher

The History and Environmental Fair is designed to address the following Kansas standards:

Identifying artifacts

Kansas History, Government and Social Studies Standards

Standard#5 Relationships among people, places, ideas, and environments are dynamic.

Benchmark 5.1:  The student will recognize and evaluate dynamic relationships that impact lives in communities, states, and nations.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Science

ESS3: 1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth's resources and environment.

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for English and Language Arts
Speaking and Listening

SL 4.1c: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly. C. Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.

SL 4.3:  Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.

There is plenty of room so schools may come and go at their convenience but should plan at least two hours at the event and an hour in the museum. The fair will feature some 30 different hands-on activities, displays, and a nature trail that will educate students in many aspects of environmental issues. Information at the event will be suitable for students generally from the fourth grade and up.

The fair is organized such that each exhibitor has a display area. Teachers escort their class to each display where a 10-minute presentation is made. Teachers may choose to go to some or all of the displays. Each teacher will receive a packet of information and activities that can be used later in classroom. 

There is no admission charge for the History and Environmental Fair.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Yearly more than 800 students from schools throughout northeastern Kansas participate in this educational event. Many thank yous go out to all the participants who donate their time and efforts to make this day a great yearly event. 

View images from previous History and Environmental Fairs.